The St. Louis Blues took advantage of the Calgary Flames once again, defeating them 4-1.

It’s a Team Game – In what needed to be one of their best performances of the season the Calgary Flames came out flat footed against a motivated and hungry Blues team. The first period saw two major defensive breakdowns where players got caught out of position and it led to Blues players being wide open for goals. The third goal to go against in the first period was an unscreened slap shot from Colton Parayko – although the puck did just go low to high and across the ice. Calgary understood the hole they had dug themselves and responded like wildfire to start the second period. Eventually Joel Hofer was solved by Yegor Sharangovich, but that was all Calgary could muster. The third period was fairly even – the Blues really limiting what Calgary could do with their two-goal lead.

Corsi King – Jake Bean (62.44 per cent) has become the Flames sixth defenceman. He’s earned it with his strong presence in mobility on the back end – Miromanov’s play growing more questionable with each game also helped. Rory Kerins (62.42 per cent) was not sheltered from minutes in this one – he even found the scoresheet with another assist. That makes three apples in three games for the newest call up. It was the line with limited minutes and limited offence that struggled. Led by Kevin Rooney (25.19 per cent) seeing over ten shot attempts against him in just five minutes oof 5v5 play.

Taken By Chance – It was Bean (55.90 SCF% || 65.80 HDCF%) and Brayden Pachal (47.74 per cent || 55.96 per cent) leading the way in high danger chances going four to two in their favour. The Mikael Backlund (71.83 per cent || 49.10 per cent) line were next, gaining three for and three against. Those were the guys that matched up well in this one, the other side of the table had MacKenzie Weegar (22.26 per cent || 0 per cent) give up eight high danger looks. We’re all allowed to have rough days at work, Weegar nailed it on Tuesday and had a rough Thursday – that happens.

xGF% – I’ve been eager to get here and write about Jonathan Huberdeau (25.88 per cent) and Nazem Kadri (47.09 per cent). The duo had been so hot for so long this run of games with a lack of offensive contribution is affecting results frequently. For the month of December, they were at least good for one goal a game, but now that run is over, and the production has started to diminish. The Flames needed these two more than ever in these last two games and they decided to hide on milk cartons. Most people a three-game pointless slide is still a passable level. However, for the two most expensive guys on the team, there are higher expectations for your productivity at work.

In The Crease – I didn’t like every goal against by Dustin Wolf in this match, but I was never going to like every goal he let in. Personally, the Parayko goal through minimal traffic was my least favourite. I felt the other two first period goals were largely due to the fault of a skater intentionally leaving their position and the Blues vacating that position to get a good scoring chance. Occupy old space worked twice in quick succession before the Flames woke up and started playing good hockey again. 2.71 expected goals at 5v5 with three getting past Wolf.